11 killed in motorway bus accident near Fateh Jang

• Bus was travelling from Bahawalpur to Islamabad.
• Ill-fated vehicle met accident on M-14 motorway.
• Motorway Police spox blames driver's negligence.
  

ISLAMABAD, RAWALPINDI: At least 11 people were killed after a bus met an accident and overturned on the M-14 Motorway near Fateh Jang on Monday.

With the deceased comprising six women and five men, the number of those wounded in the accident stands at 22, said the rescue officials.

The victims hailed from Bahawalpur, Vehari, Sharaqpur and Islamabad, added the rescue officials.

Furthermore, rescue officials said that six people, including three women, have been shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, whereas one injured has been transferred to Islamabad and District Headquarter Hospital, each.

Meanwhile, the Motorway Police spokesperson has said that the bus, travelling from Bahawalpur to Islamabad, met a deadly accident due to the driver's negligence.

Reacting to the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has expressed grief and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Meanwhile, Motorway Police Inspector General Riffat Mukhtar has ordered an immediate investigation into the bus accident.

Directing the provision of the best medical facilities to the wounded, the IG expressed sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families.

Bus accidents are not uncommon in Pakistan and occur frequently due to various reasons including driver negligence, road and weather conditions etc.

Last month, an "over-speeding" bus carrying wedding guests plunged off a bridge into the Indus River, killing at least 14 people in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The bus was part of a wedding procession heading towards Punjab's Chakwal district when it fell into the river from Telchi bridge in the limits of Diamer district.

However, two people, including the bride, were rescued in the incident, said the authorities.

Before that, six people were killed and 20 others were wounded in Balochistan's Sherani after a bus plunged into a ditch in the Danasar area in September.

The month of August saw at least two bus accidents with 25 people being killed after a passenger bus, travelling with 30 passengers from Haveli Kahuta to Rawalpindi, fell into a ditch near Pana Bridge.

Whereas, at least eight people were killed and seven others were injured after a passenger bus rammed into a trailer truck on the Sukkur-Multan motorway near Malook Wali village in Ghotki.